From masc@phoenixx.com Thu Aug  3 10:14:12 EDT 1995
Article: 35441 of rec.games.mecha
Path: gt-news!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.tc.cornell.edu!newsserver.sdsc.edu!news.cerf.net!ni1.ni.net!masc
From: masc@phoenixx.com (B Masc)
Newsgroups: rec.games.mecha
Subject: Re: Tim & Activision.  MWII Joystick problem. PATCH soon?
Date: 3 Aug 1995 03:46:02 GMT
Organization: Indeed...
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In article <3vo6c5$c4s@newsbf02.news.aol.com>,
   rdclark@aol.com (RDClark) wrote:
><<I have tried and tried and _tried_ (boy have I tried) to play with
>my FLCS and it is (without any exaggeration) _impossible_ to aim with! >>
>
>Your points and requests seem reasonable, but aren't you going a bit over
>the top with this? I mean, if it's impossible (without exaggeration) to
>aim, nobody would be able to win any missions and succeed in the game.

First of all based on your post I already know you are just using the joystick
to control ONLY THE Y-AXIS am I right? Meaning you probably use the keyboard
for Torso twisting. I know this because if you've tried aiming with the
with a joystick while you struggled to fight BOTH THE X & Y AXIS auto-cntring
you would know it is impossible to achieve any kind of precise aiming.
I suggest you borrow a F-16FLCS and set it to Joystick Torso control.
(which means the joystick controls both the x and x axis with pedals to
control the mechs legs -JUST LKE VWE) Try to hit a mech's legs at a distance
or even close up (while both you and the enemy mech are moving -since this is 
mostly likely what is happenening most of the time unless you like to play 
flat footed) it IS impossible! NO EXAGGERATION. Try it before you tell me I'm 
exaggerating. If they had play tested this configuration they would have 
offered a non-centering option because they would have known it renders the
game unplayable in this configuration. Try targeting a mechs legs in 
EARTHSEIGE which has non-autocentering -it controls like a dream. What you
end up having to do in MWII is sweep the target hoping to fire when your
crosshairs pass over the target -this is a terrible way to fight. Do you
think if mechs really existed they would design them so you would have to
sweep the target instead of giving it pinpoint STEADY aim? Don't think so.
 
 Yet
>many have. I've completed the Wolf Clan missions and am nearly through the
>JF series, playing alternately with keyboard/mouse or keyboard/dual
>sticks

I wonder why you have to use a mouse at times? If you've played EarthSiege
you wouldn't ever have to touch the mouse. Just the fact that you alternate 
playing with the mouse says something about the joystick control. 

, and I'm not having any trouble aiming my weapons -- even on a
>DX2/66 with a sub-optimal framerate. It just takes some practice, which is
>worth the effort to enjoy this excellent game. 

Once again I know you have the joystick set to control the y-axis with the
left & right movements of the stick controlling the chassis (not torso twists)
Try setting the joystick for torso twists & suprise, you now have auto-
centering on BOTH axes..._impossible_ isn't it? This isn't a flame, just a 
little irritated because you haven't tried the configuration I'm talking about 
before accusing me of exaggerating. BTW this is how it is set up in the VWE
BattleTech sims: the stick controls the turret & torso twists while the pedals
control the chassis (it makes more sense doesn't it?) It doesn't have auto-
centering and it controls great. Why Activision chose to ignore what should 
have been the obvious model for control is a mystery to me (afterall I
would think a majority of the people who will buy MWII are those who play 
BattleTech @ VWE as well) Once again, try this configuration out and you will
know that it IS IMPOSSIBLE (no exaggeration.) You'll end up firing a LOT of
stray shots (forget about even arming yourself with Auto-Cannons) and
targeting legs at a distance isn't even an option. _Try it_ then come back 
and tell me it's playable. If you are honest, you will have to admit that in
this configuration, it IS _impossible_.

B Masc - The Masc - masc@phoenixx.com
"When I die, I want go like my grandfather: in his sleep.
Not like the passengers in his car: screaming their heads off"


